Fluid pump



NOV. 22, 1966 1 P, MALEC 3,286,637

FLUID PUMP Filed NOv 5, 1965 United States Patent Office 3,286,537 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 3,286,637 FLUID PUMP Jerry P. Malec, 3125y S. 41st St., Omaha, Nebr. Filed Nov. 5,1963, Ser. No. 321,620 11v Claims. (Cl. 103-37) This invention relates in general to fluid pumps and in particular to a piston-type pump automatically responsive to actuation to sequentially discharge fluid trapped therein and to charge itself with another quantity of iluid therein.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel piston-type' ll'uid pump.

It is another object of this invention to provide a fluid pump capable in a normal position of admitting a lluid under pressure from a rst area to a chamber within the pump, and in an actuated position of discharging the iluid under a higher pressure toV a second area.

Yet another object of. this invention is to provide a fluid pump wherein as a piston thereof is forced in one direction to effect a sealing oit of one end of a fluid filled chamber, a sealing means at another end of the chamber is opened to permit the discharge of the iluid in said chamber, said opening being in response to an increased pressure of saidk fluid due` to' a decrease of the size of said chamber in response to the movement of said piston.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a fluid pump capable of attaining the above mentioned objectives which is simple of construction and manufacture, easily serviced, and effective in use.

yThese objects, and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a fragmentary, side elevational View of a container having lluid therein, and showing the use of a plurality of pumps of this invention, the pumps being threadably inserted through the wall of the container, part of the container broken away to more clearly illustrate the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the pumps of FIG. l, showing the pump in longitudinal sectional View and in anormal, inoperative position;

FIG. 3 isl a view similar to FIG. 2, and showing the pump in an actuated, operative position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a modified ver sion of the pump; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the pump of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of six preferred embodiments of the pump of this invention are illustrated generally at 10, and are sh-own in assembled relation with a circular wall 11 of a hollow conduit on the tube 12. The tube 12 may be the reservoir or container for any mechanism, wherein the tube 12 holds a quantity of fluid 13 at a certain pressure, and the function of each pump being to dispense a quantity of the fluidY 13 from within the tube 12 to the exterior thereof.

One use of the pump 10, by Way of illustration and not limitation, would be to replace the actuating valves 40" described in US. Patent No. 2,988,050, issued .Tune 13, 1961 and entitled Livestock Oiler. Thus, as a cow or other animal would rub up against the tube 12, engagement with' a pump 10 would result in a discharge of the fluid 13, an insecticide for example, onto the hide or other part of the cow or animal.

ReferringV particularly to` FIGS. 2 and 5, the construction" of a pump 10 is shown. Each pump 10 comprises basically a cylindrical housing 14, a piston unit 16, a movable' Valve unit 17 and a biasing coil spring 18.

The cylindrical housing 14 has externally a nut head 19 and a threaded shank 21 for threadable engagement into an aperture 22 therefor in the wall 11 of the tube 12. Internally of the cylindrical housing 14, a bore 23 is formed at the reduced end 24 internally of the tube 12, and a circular chamber 26 is also formed therein, being of a diameter larger than said bore 23 and connected with said bore by a shoulder 27 inclined in a direction from the chamber 26 toward the bore.

At the enlarged nut head end 19 of the housing 14, a still larger circular cavity 28, relative to the diameter of said chamber 26, is formed internally the housing 14. Formed thereby is an annular outwardly facing, external end 29 having a at surface extended normal to the longitudinal axis of said housing 14.

Reciprocallyy inserted into and extended completely through the housing 14 is the piston unit 16 (FIGS. 2 and 5*). This unit 16 includes the piston 31, an O-ring seal 32, and a snap ring 33. The piston 31, as best seen in FIG. 2, has a flanged internal end 34 and a shank 36 separated by a groove 37 in which the snap ring 33 is mounted to prevent movement lof the piston 31 to the right as viewed in FIG. 2, or outwardly of the housing 14. The shank 36 has a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the bore 23.

This piston 31 further includes an intermediate shank 38 of the same size as the shank 36 and separated therefrom by a groove 39 in which the O-ring seal 32 is mounted. The O-ring seal 32 has an outer diameter such that when engaging the wall of the bore 23, as shown in FIG. 3, a seal is effected between the bore 23 wall and piston 31, preventing the flow of fluid thereby. Adjacent the intermediate shank 38 is a stem 41 of a diameter larger than that of the shank 38 but slightly less than the diameter of the chamber 26. The stem 41 is separated from the intermediate shank 38 by a shoulder 42 slantedl in a direction and manner complementary to the housing shoulder 27.

The stem 41 has a length such that it extends outwardly of said housing 14 a substantial extent as illustrated in FIG. 2. At the outer end of the stem 41, an annular U-shaped button 43 is integral therewith, the ange 44 of the button 43 extended over the stem 41 to serve to protect other parts associated therewith.

These other parts comprise the Owing seal 46 and a llat Washer 47, which make up the valve unit 17, and the spring 18. The seal 46 embraces the stem 41, being longitudinally movable thereon, and is adapted to seat within the cavity 28 so as to effect a seal between the housing 14 and the piston at that locati-on. The washer 47 also embraces the stem 41 and is movable longitudinally thereon.

The spring 18 (FIGS. 2 and 3) surrounds the stem 41 and is engaged with the button 43 in a cut-out 48 provided therefor in the button 43, and with the washer 47. As depicted in FIG. 2, the normal position of the pump 10, with the housing 14 threaded through the wall 11 as illustrated, is with the spring 18 expanded, thereby having the piston 31 in its most outwardly extended position, the snap ring 33 preventing further outward movement.

In this position of the piston 31, the seal 32 is positioned inwardly of the bore 23, and the seal 46 is forced into the cavity 28 by the spring 18. Thus, in the normal, inoperative position of the pump as depicted in FIG. 2, the lluid 13 passes `through the annular space between the wall of the bore 23 and the shank 36 and into the chamber 26, ready for discharge. At this stage of operation the pump 10 is primed or charged.

To actuate the pump 10 an-d effect a discharge of t'he fluid 13 outwardly thereof, also effecting an automatic recharging' of the pump, the button 43 is merely pushed inwardly toward the operative position best illustrated in FIG. 3. Here, as the piston 31 is moved inwardly of the housing 14, the seal 32 is forced into engagement with the bore 23, effecting thereby a seal. As the piston stem 41 and shoulder 42 move toward the housing shoulder 27, it will be appreciated that the size of the chamber 26 is reduced.

The pressure of the fluid 13 in the chamber 26 is thereby greatly increased. rIlhis results in the forcing of the fluid through the annular space formed between the wall of the chamber 26 and the piston stem 41, and against the seal 46 and the washer 47. Thus, so long as the increased pressure of the fluid within the chamber 26 is greater than the pressure of any fluid externally of the pump plus the pressure of the spring 18, the spring will be overcome, the seal 46 unseated, and the fluid 13 will be discharged externally of the tube Wall 11. Continued pressure upon the button 43 results in continued discharge of the fluid within the chamber 26 until the fluid therein is exhausted, whereupon the piston shoulder 42 seats against the housing shoulder 27.

Upon a release of the button 43, the expansion of the spring 18 forces the seal 46 and washer into their sealing position of FIG. l, and effects a withdrawal of the piston 31 to the FIG. 2 position, with the concomitant refilling of the chamber 26.

Referring to FIG. 4, a modification of the pump 10 is disclosed, with all like parts relative to FIGS. 1-3, and 5, indicated by like reference numerals. Whereas the displacement of fluid by the pump 10' of FIGS. 1-3 and 5 is constant, pump 11B" provides a pump the fluid displacement of which is easily varied.

This is accomplished by changing the single piston unit 16 into a unit 16 having two threadably engageable parts, a piston 31 and an adjusting member 51. The piston 31 is substantially identical to piston 31 except for the formation axially thereof of a bore the inner portion 52 of which is threaded and the outer portion 53 of which is smooth, having a slightly larger diameter than the threaded portion 52.

The adjusting member 51 is provided at the inne-rmost end with a flange 34 and a threaded inner shank 36 separated by a groove 37 in which a snap ring 33 is mounted. As will be seen, the snap ring 33 abuts. against the outer end surface of the housing 14, and prevents movement of the adjusting member 51 to the right from the position illustrated. The shank 36 has a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the bore 23.

The adjusting member includes also an externally threaded intermediate shank 38 threadably engaged with the threaded inner portion 52 of the piston 31. The shank 38 is the same size as the shank 36 and is separated therefrom by a groove 39 in which an O-ring seal 32 is mounted. The seal 32 is of such a diameter that upon movement of the button 43 and the adjusting member S1 inwardly or to the left as viewed in FIG. 4, upon engagement of the seal 32 with the bore 23, a fluid-tight seal is effected therebetween.

At the outer end of the adjusting member 51, another groove 54 is provided for an O-ring seal 56, providing a seal with the bore outer portion 53 to prevent the escape of fluid between the shank 38 and the portion 52. The adjusting member 51 has a slotted head 57 reciprocally and rotatably movable within the bore outer portion 53. A screwdriver (not shown) or the like may be used to rotate the head 57 whereupon the adjusting member 51 is moved longitudinally of the piston 31. As viewed in FIG. 4, the inner shoulder 42 of the piston 31 is very close to the seal 32, thus the adjusting member 51 is almost at its minimum position-so to speak. By threading the adjusting member 51 so that the seal 32 moves away from the shoulder 42', the maximum position is reached. This maximum position is limited by the seal 56 contacting the shoulder 58 formed between the inner and outer portions 51 and 52.

The import of the adjustment structure is that the amount of fluid displaced from the tube 12 may thereby be varied. Thus, referring to FIG. 4, the chamber`26,

4 defined longitudinally by the shoulder 42' and the shoulder 27, is almost at its smallest size and capacity, due to the adjusting member 51 being almost at its minimum position. Inward movement of the button 43 =by an animal, or by anything pushing thereagainst, would thereby result in a small discharge of fluid.

Conversely, upon movement of the adjusting member 51 to its maximum position, whereby the shoulders 27 and 42 are farther apart than as shown in FIG. 4, it will readily be visualized that the size and capacity of the chamber 26 is increased. Operation of the pump 10 will thereby result in a discharge and recharging of a larger quantity of fluid.

In summation, a piston-type pump having a variable capacity has been described herein which is automatically responsive to actuation for sequentially discharging a quantity of fluid and re-charging itself with another quantity of fluid.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my fluid pump Without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. A fluid pump comprising in combination:

housing means having a bore formed therein at one end, an opening formed therein at the other end, and having a chamber formed therein between said bore and said opening;

a rigid piston means reciprocally inserted through said bore, chamber' and opening, with one end of said piston means extended outwardly beyond said bore and the opposite end of said piston means extended outwardly beyond said opening;

means embracing said piston means and movable longitudinally thereon against said housing at the open end thereof to effect a seal whereby to retain fluid within said chamber;

said bore having a first diameter, said Vchamber having a second `diameter larger than said first diameter, and said opening having a third diameter larger than said second diameter; and

means biasing said piston means toward a normal position where said bore is opened to the passage of fluid therethrough and said opening is sealed against the passage of fluid therethrough, said piston means movable to a position where said bore is sealed against the passage of -fluid therethrough and said opening is intermittently opened to the passage of fluid therethrough during the reciprocation of said piston means.

2. A fluid pump comprising in combination:

housing means including a cylinder having a circular bore for-med therein at one end thereof, a circular chamber of a larger diameter than said bore formed centrally therein, and a circular fluid exit opening of a diameter larger than said chamber formed at the other end of said cylinder, said bore, chamber and fluid exit opening being axially aligned;

piston means reciprocally inserted through said bore, chamber and fluid exit opening, with one end of said piston means extended outwardly beyond said bore and the opposite end of said piston means extended outwardly beyond said fluid exit opening;

means embracing said piston means and movable longitudinally thereon against said housing at the open end thereof to effect a seal whereby to retain fluid within said chamber;

said bore having a first diameter, said chamber having a second diameter larger than said first diameter, and said opening having a third diameter larger than said second diameter; and

means biasing said piston means toward a normal position where said bore is opened to the passage of uid therethrough and said opening is' sealed against the passage of fluid therethrough, said piston means movable to ai position where said bore is sealed against the passage of iluidV therethrough and said fluid exit opening is intermittently opened to the passage of fluid from said circular chamber when saidv piston means is -reciprocated 3. A ui-d pump` comprising in combination:

housing means having a bore formed therein at one end, an opening formed therein at the other end and having a chamber formed therein between said bore and said opening;

pistonmeans reciprocally inserted through said bore,

chamber and opening; y

means embracing said piston means and movable longitudinally thereon against said housing at the open end thereof to'r elfec't a seal whereby to retain fluid within said chamber; and

resilient means inserted between said embracing means and one end of said piston means and biasing said embracing means toward said housing, and biasing Said piston means to a position wherein said bore is open to the passage of uid into said chamber,

said piston means reciprocally movable against the resistance of said resilient means to another position wherein said bore is sealed by said piston means against the passage of uid therethrough, and wherein said embracing means is unseated from sealing engagement with said housing in response to the movement of said piston means relative to said chamber to reduce the size thereof, thereby increasing the pressure of the fluid therein.

4. A fluid pump comprising in combination:

housing means including a' cylinder having a circular bore formed therein at one end thereof, a circular chamber of a larger diameter than said bore formed centrally therein, and a circular opening of a diameter larger than said chamber formed at the other end of said cylinder, said bore, chamber and opening being axially aligned;

piston means reciprocally inserted through said bore,

chamber and opening; V

means embracing said piston means and movable longitudinally thereon against said housing at the open end thereof to effect a seal whereby to retain fluid within said chamber; and

resilient means inserted between said embracing means and one end of said piston means and biasing said embracing means toward said housing, and biasing said piston` means` to a position wherein sai-d bore isopen to the passage of fluid into said chamber,

said piston means reciprocally movable against the resistance of said resilientmeans to another position wherein said bore is sealed by said piston means against the passage of fluid therethrough, and wherein said embracing means is unseated from sealing enga-gement with said housing in response to the movement of saidpiston means relative to said chamber to reduce the size thereof, thereby increasing the pressure of the fluid therein.

5. A fluid pump comprising in combination:

housing means including a cylinder having a circular bore formed therein at one end thereof, a circular chamber of a larger diameter than said bore formed centrally therein, and a circular opening of a diameter larger than said chamber formed at the other end of said cylinder, said bore, chamber and opening being axially aligned;

piston means reciprocally inserted through said cylinder and including a circular end of a diameter `slightly smaller than said bore diameter, a iluid sealing ring mounted on said circular end and engageable with the wall of said bore to effect a fluidtight seal, a circular intermediate portion slightly smaller in diameter than said chamber diameter,

and a flanged end opposite said circular end of a -diameter larger than said intermediate portion;

means embracing said piston` means and movable longitudinally thereon against said housing at the open end thereof to effect a seal whereby to retain uid within said chamber; and

resilient means inserted between said embracing means and one end of said piston means and biasing said embracing means toward said housing, and biasing said piston means to a position wherein said bore is open to the passage of uid into said chamber,

said piston means -reciprocally movable against the resistance of said resilient means to another position wherein said bore is sealed by said piston means against the passage of fluid therethrough, and wherein said embracing means is unseated from sealing engagement with said housing in response to the movement of said piston means relative to said chamber to reduce the size thereof, thereby increasing the pressure of the uid therein.

6J. A uid pump comprising in combination:

housing means including a cylinder having a circular bore formed therein at one end thereof, a circular chamber of a larger diameter than said bore formed centrally therein, and a circular opening of a diameter larger than said chamber formed at the other end of said cylinder, said bore, chamber and opening being axially aligned;

piston means reciprocally inserted through said cylinder and including a circular end of a diameter slightly smaller than said bore diameter, a fluid sealing ring mounted on said circular end and engageable with the wall of said bore to effect a Huid-tight seal, a circular intermediate portion slightly smaller in diameter than said chamber diameter, and a flanged end opposite said circular end of a diameter larger than said intermediate portion;

means embracing said intermediate portion including a Huid sealing O-ring and a circular washer movable longitudinally on said intermediate portion and against said housing at the open en-d thereof to elect a seal whereby to retain fluid within said chamber; and

resilient means inserted between `said embracing means and one end of said piston means and biasing said embracing means toward said housing, and biasing said piston means to a position wherein said bore is open to the passage of fluid into said chamber,

said piston means reciprocally movable against the resistance of said resilient means to another position wherein said bore is sealed by said piston means against the passage of fluid therethrough, and wherein rsaid embracing means is unseated from sealing engagement with said housing in response to the movement of said piston means relative to said chamber to reduce the size thereof, thereby increasing the pressure of the uid therein.

7. A fluid pump as characterized in claim 6, and further wherein said resilient means comprises a coil spring surrounding said intermediate portion of said piston means, and compressed between said washer and said piston flanged end adjacent thereto.

8. A uid pump comprising in combination:

housing means including a cylinder having a bore formed therein, at one end a circular chamber and a uid exit opening,

a rigid piston means reciprocally inserted through said bore, chamber and fluid eXit opening, said piston means adjustable as to length whereby to vary the size of said chamber;

means embracing said piston means and movable longitudinally thereon against said housin-g at the open end thereof to effect a seal whereby to retain fluid within said chamber;

said bore having a first diameter, said chamber having a second diameter larger than said rst diameter, and said opening having a third diameter larger than said second diameter; and

' means biasing said piston means toward a normal posihousing means having a bore formed therein at one end, a fluid exit-opening formed therein at the other end, and having a chamber formed therein between said bore and said opening;

piston means reciprocally inserted through said bore, chamber and opening, with one end of said piston means extended outwardly beyond said bore and engageable with said Ihousing means one end to limit movement of said piston means toward said fluid exit opening, the opposite end of said piston means extended outwardly beyond said fluid exit opening, said piston means adjustable as to length whereby to vary the size of said chamber; and

means biasing said piston means toward a normal position where said bore is opened to the passage of `fluid therethrough and said fluid exit opening is sealed against the passage of Huid therethrough, said piston means movable to a position where said bore is sealed against the passage of fluid therethrough and said iluid exit opening is open to the passage of fluid from said cylinder.

10. A uid pump comprising in combination:

housing means having a 'bore formed therein at one end, a fluid exit opening formed therein at the other end and having a chamber formed therein between said bore and said fluid exit opening;

piston means reciprocally inserted through said bore, chamber and iluid exit opening, said piston means having one end extended externally of said bore and engaged with said housing means one end to limit movement of said piston means toward said uid exit opening, said piston means adjustable as to length whereby to vary the size of said chamber;

means embracing said piston means and movable longitudinally thereon against said housing at the open end thereof to eiect a seal whereby to retain fluid l Within said chamber; and

resilient means inserted between said embracing means and one end of said piston means and biasing said embracing means toward said housing, and biasing said piston means to a position wherein said bore is open to the passage of fluid into said chamber,

said piston means reciprocally movable against the resistance of said resilient means to another position wherein said bore is sealed by said piston means against the passage of iluid therethrough, and wherein said embracing means is unseated from sealing engagement with said housing in response to the movement of said piston means relative to said chamber to reduce the size thereof, thereby increasing the pressure of the fluid therein.

11. A Huid pump comprising in combination:

housing means including a cylinder having a circular bore formed therein at one end thereof, a circular `chamber of a larger diameter than said bore formed centrally therein, and a circular fluid exit opening of a diameter larger than said chamber formed at the other end of said cylinder, said bore, chamber and fluid exit opening being axially aligned;

piston means reciprocally inserted through said cylinder and including an elongated adjusting member threadably inserted into a circular member having an enlarged end;

said adjusting member having one end smaller in diameter than said bore, protruded through said bore, and enlarged beyond said bore to limit movement of said adjusting member inwardly of said bore, a fluid sealing ring embracing said adjusting member and engageable with the wall of said bore to eiect a duid-tight seal therewith;

said circular member having a bore formed axially therein for threadably receiving said adjusting member, and with an end of said adjusting member 0ppos-ite said one end thereof accessible through one end of said circular member bore;

means embracing said intermediate portion including a fluid sealing O-ring and a circular washer movable longitudinally on said intermediate portion and against said housing at the open end thereof to efect a seal whereby to retain fluid within said chamber; and

resilient means inserted between said embracing means and one end of said piston means and biasing said embracing means toward said housing, and biasing said piston means to a position wherein said bore is open to the passage to fluid into said chamber,

said piston means reciprocally movable against the resistance of said resilient means to another position wherein said bore is sealed by said piston means against the passage of uid therethrough, and wherein said embracing means is unseated from sealing engagement with said housing in response to the movement of said piston means relative to said chamber to reduce the size thereof, thereby increasing the pressure of lthe uid therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,374,980 4/1921 Bossert 103-1 1,559,484 10/1925 Watrous 103-1665 1,586,397 5/1926 Bobrick 103-166.5 1,699,237 1/ 1929 Goldrick 103-227 1,715,774 6/ 1929 Morrill 222--322 1,880,271 10/1932 Palmer 103--153 2,619,914 12/1952 Dobkin 103-166.5 2,628,569 2/ 1953 Gilmore 103-227 LAURENCE V. EFNER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLUID PUMP COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: HOUSING MEANS HAVING A BORE FORMED THEREIN AT ONE END, AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN AT THE OTHER END, AND HAVING A CHAMBER FORMED THEREIN BETWEEN SAID BORE AND SAID OPENING; A RIGID PISTON MEANS RECIPROCALLY INSERTED THROUGH SAID BORE, CHAMBER AND OPENING, WITH ONE END OF SAID PISTON MEANS EXTENDED OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID BORE AND THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID PISTON MEANS EXTENDED OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID OPENING; MEANS EMBRACING SAID PISTON MEANS AND MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY THEREON AGAINST SAID HOUSING AT THE OPEN END THEREOF TO EFFECT A SEAL WHEREBY TO RETAIN FLUID WITHIN SAID CHAMBER; SAID BORE HAVING A FIRST DIAMETER, SAID CHAMBER HAVING A SECOND DIAMETER LARGER THAN SAID FIRST DIAMETER, AND SAID OPENING HAVING A THIRD DIAMETER LARGER THAN SAID SECOND DIAMETER; AND MEANS BIASING SAID PISTON MEANS TOWARD A NORMAL POSITION WHERE SAID BORE IS OPENED TO THE PASSAGE OF FLUID THERETHROUGH AND SAID OPENING IS SEALED AGAINST THE PASSAGE OF FLUID THERETHROUGH, SAID PISTON MEANS MOVABLE TO A POSITION WHERE SAID BORE IS SEALED AGAINST THE PASSAGE OF FLUID THERETHROUGH AND SAID OPENING IS INTERMITTENTLY OPENED TO THE PASSAGE OF FLUID THERETHROUGH DURING THE RECIPROCATION OF SAID PISTON MEANS. 